The Sunday herald., 1887-01-02
AMuSE NJ ENTS.

"The Little Tycoon" who in the spring gave US
touch OF his quality to the extent OF one act at the
btnen, OF the ElKs, last Monday brought over his |
entire gorgeous suite, bag and baggage, and spent
the week with us at Albaugh's. There Is nothing |
about His IIiphness which at first blush would seem |
liable to set theatre on nre But to say nothing Of
his late pyroiechnical achievement in Philadelphia |
he seems to have nightly enkindled very Creditable
blaze Of enthusiasm in his large and, well-yes, In
elllgent audiences in Washington. Probably he |
cause OF Its name aud some incidental fans, lanterns
and oriental embroidery, 1t has been charged |
that the "Tycoon" is pagarized from the e"Mlkado."
We don't love the "Mikado" ss much as we did |
several years ago, before had heard 1t thirty.
seven times In lis entirety, to say nothing of hand |
organs. But It should scarcely bo abused In this |
fashion. The "Tycoon" does truly suggest the
"Mikado" 10 some extent, because, chiefly, II is so
different. The last act, to be sure is Japanese just
the first is on shipboard with suggestions OF spin
afore." The American play, however, asserts Its |
happy Independence OF all Gilbert and sullivan pre-
cedent, In that 1t quite generally TO be funny
aud forgets to be musical More seriously speaking,
the pretty waliz-song, the altogether sprlghtly |
and clcvery scored march music ut the beginning
Of the fete scene, combining the Japanese wggle
with the Ethiopian wak.around, In about equal pro- |
portions, and one or two other numbers for soloiss
and chorus, show much musical Invention that Ia
both original and fcllcous. The difficulty with the
music s mainly that there is not enough OF II. leav-
ing the stage too much TO the supposed fun OF the
piece whose perceptible jokes are few and far be-
tween, aud OF such quality that the fewer and far
tner they are perhaps the better. But after all,
what is the use OF being too critical with anything
that gives us, as the Tycoon" undoubtedly does,
pretty and clever girls, beautiful and Ingenious
scenery, some bright and tuneful music, and at
least two topical songs. Mr.. Graham, who skips
ninby about The circuit OF the stage with nearly the
ders, Is recalled number OF fines which we should
be ashamed to state II could 10 tell the audience
what happened tin his Boyhool's Days." and to as.
sure and reassure them that "They Cahn't DO 1t,
You Know" At last he appeals to the police and
the show is allowed TO proceed. Mr.. Graham Is an
entertaining actor and good comic singer Messrs.
| Campbell and Dunbar have respectively very pleas
Ing tenor and Baritone voices, which they display
slngly or in unison with taste and effect MIR. Felix
Haney contributes an amusing Irish brogue and
snug" to the general hilarlty and MIR.
Edward Everett, who as Lord Dolphin
| says nothing but "oa! Ah." during the en-
tire performance, is a diverting II uncons scous
satire on his eloquent name. OF the laes, the anu
pie charms OF Mss Hurricane, Miss Hattie ArnoldO
whether vocally or physically considered, can
scarcely receive too liberal space Mss Hurricane
is far enough from being an ilwind, and watts
nothing but good nature and enjoyment to the re-
notes, nook of the auditorium. Miss Carrie Die
trick sang nicely the music allotted to Toet Knict-
erbocker, and Miss Toma Hanlon, recent acqulsi-
| ton from the variety stage, very concusivey and
pleastngly "showed cause" for her change OF penue
The two scenes Of the last act extremely pretty,
| and their almost Instantaneous change as duly set
forth on the programme, "in fteeu seconds. during
which the theatre Will be darkened,' little short
Of marvellous. ln1eei the time seemed briefer than
| stated to the young couples who were inclined to
avail themselves Of the temporary obscurity for tu-
.Nat
the "Lttle Tycoon" Is bright aud pleasant one, and
accounts for its continued successes. II little bit
OF cleverness could be Injected into the breto to
make 1t worthy OF some OF the music, the
| result would be perhaps fairly brilliant little ope-
retta-and failure.
AT the National MIR. Robert Buchanan's "Alone in
| London" was given during the week TO good
houses In mos, excellent fashion by Miss Cora Tan
ner and well-selected support. Mr.. Buchanan g
play Is melodrama OF the good old sort, pure and
simple. with the familiar admixture OF blood and
thunder buckets OF tears and considerable gore bu,
vllainy foied and virtue rewarded at the nnal cur
tam Strange to say, however, its structural
strength seems in no wise impaired by the fact tina,
It's author is poet and man Of letters and has here
and there let fall artistic beauties of thought and
expression unusual in work OF this character. The
Annie Meadows Of Miss Tanner is a very charming
and pathetic creation. This gifted young lady ap.
pears TO possess very exceptional ability as an emo
tonal actress, associated with the attractions OF a
sweet voice and face, and Of those rarely mould
ed forms, about which the sorriest rags OF a role
like this at once dispose themselves In lines OF
beauty that might be sought in vain by the robes Of
an empress. Her walk and gestures are full OF un.
conscious grace, and tattered shawl thrown oyeI
her shapely head falls about the rounded column OF
her throat and the superb sweep of her shoulders
in curves that would be the delight and
despair OF sculptor. Her acting, like hei
voice, is pitched in natural key, very
pleasant TO the sense, full Of modulation and
Injection, and with wise reserve that leaves Il
n sustained power still true aud harmonious under
the strain Of the most eXacting climax. Her com
pany is one OF more than average excellence, th'
villainy being done with especial ability, from tht
gentemanly scoundrcsm OF Mr.. Craig to the senilt
and comic rascality OF Mr.. Leonard Grover, Jr
Miss Ada Dyer, az the outcas cripple, and Mis
lie Claire, as the pugnacious Ms. Mdtoney, were ad
mirable in widely varying roles, and the ''humol'
. professionally of Mr.. Fisher and Miss Holloway
created no end OF merriment. The play was stage,
in very praseworthy fashion, and the tabeau o
the Old sluce, with the n-rushirg river, on
OF the most sarllngy realistic bits OF scenic iuslo
ever witnessed here.
For the first week OF the new year Manager Al
baugh announces a theatrical event as attractive a
1t is ausplcious in the engagement of lady, who,
g addition TO being the most beautiful woman on IN